Rejection and malice an ugly combination

What would Jaguars lose by filling stadium with Tebow fans?

By Dwight CollinsColumnist

Published: Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at 6:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at 12:34 a.m.

A bad advertising campaign can lead to rolling eyes and create just a small shiver of embarrassment to the group that loves your product, and make those on the fence hesitate slightly before ultimately giving you a try.
The brilliance of the perfect burrito, for example, should not be lost in an ad campaign that instead decides to focus on the “mucus-loosening and sinus-draining capabilities” of the fine spices utilized.
And if it's all the same to the drug companies, I'll suffer through the occasional sleepless night or sad patch without the help of a product that practically promises an intestinal rejection of some sort with a side order of headache. You know, that 10-second disclaimer that's read by the guy who auctions off delinquent storage units by day.
Suicidal thoughts? Really?
But those are simply the hiccups we laugh at, easily overcome if the company is reputable and tries its best to deliver a quality product.
What's not so simple is the scorched-earth policy of certain NFL decision-makers that make burning a bridge seem tame.
We're not talking about an ad campaign that aimed for a bull's-eye and simply missed the mark, but a fundamental flaw in the way they do business.
Let's talk about for instance ... mmm ... let me think ... mmm ... the New York Jets' handling of the Tim Tebow situation.
No one can blame the Jets for misusing the former Heisman winner and first-round draft choice. Nothing at all worked for the Jets last season. At least, initially, they showed Tebow they valued his skill set by trading for the former UF star.
The blame must be placed in the timing of Monday's release, some 40 hours after the final draft pick of 2013 was unveiled at Radio City Music Hall.
If the Jets possessed even a minimal amount of social grace, Tebow could've had talks with some team that might've preferred his abilities over someone they took off the draft board last weekend.
Hard-working winner for hire! No police record, and even good for the community. Any takers?
Nope, the rosters were as full as they are going to get when the Jets chose to evict Tebow.
After a season in which Tebow resurrected a lifeless Denver franchise and helped guide the team to not only a division title, but an enlightening playoff victory, he experienced the darker side of the NFL.
The two seasons for Tebow were as different as “Caddyshack” and “Caddyshack II” by comparison.
Sure, Denver's defense in 2011 had much to do with the success pinned weekly on Tebow. And Matt Prater's 60-yard range helped. Perhaps, some of the comebacks were made possible by Tebow attacking prevent defenses with short passes and open scrambling lanes. And we would be remiss to not mention Marion Barber's contribution to the Denver turnaround.
But Tebow got the job done, and few outside of Florida choose to remember.
Perhaps below the New York Jets on a list of inexplicable behavior are the Jacksonville Jaguars, who continue to crank out news releases designed to stop Tebow rumors before they begin.
“Not in our plans.”
“Can't see any scenario ...”
This is the biggest shocker of the entire, ridiculous episode.
The Jaguars are already saddled with a quarterback in Blaine Gabbert who is considered an inferior NFL quantity by most, just lost their best receiver to a drug suspension and couldn't fill up the stadium if The Rolling Stones played a pregame show.
The mere presence of Tebow on his hometown roster would guarantee sellouts from fans of the Florida Gators alone.
How difficult would it be to design a Tebow-friendly offense and roll the dice?
If it works, add new wrinkles and draft Oklahoma's Blake Bell next season to work behind Tebow. Denard Robinson is already on the roster. If it fails, you've probably doubled last season's win total anyway and turned a bigger profit.
Given any spark of trust and support, I think Tebow would produce wins and entertainment, or maim himself trying.
But that makes too much sense for a franchise that seems comfortable in the cellar crowd, but without the benefit of the sellout crowds.
-----Dwight Collins can be reached at dwight.collins@starbanner.com.

A bad advertising campaign can lead to rolling eyes and create just a small shiver of embarrassment to the group that loves your product, and make those on the fence hesitate slightly before ultimately giving you a try.
The brilliance of the perfect burrito, for example, should not be lost in an ad campaign that instead decides to focus on the “mucus-loosening and sinus-draining capabilities” of the fine spices utilized.
And if it's all the same to the drug companies, I'll suffer through the occasional sleepless night or sad patch without the help of a product that practically promises an intestinal rejection of some sort with a side order of headache. You know, that 10-second disclaimer that's read by the guy who auctions off delinquent storage units by day.
Suicidal thoughts? Really?
But those are simply the hiccups we laugh at, easily overcome if the company is reputable and tries its best to deliver a quality product.
What's not so simple is the scorched-earth policy of certain NFL decision-makers that make burning a bridge seem tame.
We're not talking about an ad campaign that aimed for a bull's-eye and simply missed the mark, but a fundamental flaw in the way they do business.
Let's talk about for instance ... mmm ... let me think ... mmm ... the New York Jets' handling of the Tim Tebow situation.
No one can blame the Jets for misusing the former Heisman winner and first-round draft choice. Nothing at all worked for the Jets last season. At least, initially, they showed Tebow they valued his skill set by trading for the former UF star.
The blame must be placed in the timing of Monday's release, some 40 hours after the final draft pick of 2013 was unveiled at Radio City Music Hall.
If the Jets possessed even a minimal amount of social grace, Tebow could've had talks with some team that might've preferred his abilities over someone they took off the draft board last weekend.
Hard-working winner for hire! No police record, and even good for the community. Any takers?
Nope, the rosters were as full as they are going to get when the Jets chose to evict Tebow.
After a season in which Tebow resurrected a lifeless Denver franchise and helped guide the team to not only a division title, but an enlightening playoff victory, he experienced the darker side of the NFL.
The two seasons for Tebow were as different as “Caddyshack” and “Caddyshack II” by comparison.
Sure, Denver's defense in 2011 had much to do with the success pinned weekly on Tebow. And Matt Prater's 60-yard range helped. Perhaps, some of the comebacks were made possible by Tebow attacking prevent defenses with short passes and open scrambling lanes. And we would be remiss to not mention Marion Barber's contribution to the Denver turnaround.
But Tebow got the job done, and few outside of Florida choose to remember.
Perhaps below the New York Jets on a list of inexplicable behavior are the Jacksonville Jaguars, who continue to crank out news releases designed to stop Tebow rumors before they begin.
“Not in our plans.”
“Can't see any scenario ...”
This is the biggest shocker of the entire, ridiculous episode.
The Jaguars are already saddled with a quarterback in Blaine Gabbert who is considered an inferior NFL quantity by most, just lost their best receiver to a drug suspension and couldn't fill up the stadium if The Rolling Stones played a pregame show.
The mere presence of Tebow on his hometown roster would guarantee sellouts from fans of the Florida Gators alone.
How difficult would it be to design a Tebow-friendly offense and roll the dice?
If it works, add new wrinkles and draft Oklahoma's Blake Bell next season to work behind Tebow. Denard Robinson is already on the roster. If it fails, you've probably doubled last season's win total anyway and turned a bigger profit.
Given any spark of trust and support, I think Tebow would produce wins and entertainment, or maim himself trying.
But that makes too much sense for a franchise that seems comfortable in the cellar crowd, but without the benefit of the sellout crowds.
-----<BR>
<i>Dwight Collins can be reached at dwight.collins@starbanner.com.</i>